Chrism Mass

Seventy priests – Trappist, Dominican, Passionist and Diocesan, renewed their commitment to service during the Chrism Mass presided over by Bishop Dinualdo D. Gutierrez on 19 April 2011 at Christ the King Cathedral.

The Cathedral “overflowed” with parish delegates to lend support to the priests.

Outline of Bishop’s homily.

Priests serve as prophets, priests and pastors.

a)      Prophet.  God sent Jeremiah “to tear up and to knock down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant” (Jer. 1:10).

Uproot corruption, principal cause of poverty and environmental destruction.

Knock down the Mining Act of 1995 and HB 4244.  Both are anti-life, violate human rights and environmental justice.

Plant the Good News. “I did the planting, Apollos did the watering, but God made them grow” (1 Cor. 3:6).

Like the Apostles priests continue the building of God’s Kingdom (cf. Lk. 9:32).

This Kingdom of God “means righteousness and peace and joy brought by the Holy Spirit”. (Rom.14: 16-18).

Priests also build a “just and charitable social order” (Benedict XVI address to Bishops of thePhilippines, 29 November 2010).

b)      Priests.

Priests administer the sacraments, specially Eucharist and Penance.

“The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1325).

Eucharist and Penance are closely connected.  John Paul II writes: If a Christian conscience is burdened by serious sin, then the path of penance through the sacrament of reconciliation becomes necessary for full participation in the Eucharistic sacrifice” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, n. 37).

Both are needed to build a just and charitable social order.

c)      Pastor or Shepherd.

Shepherding is an essential service.  Benedict XVI declared: “foremost role is to be a shepherd to his flock” (May 26, 2010).  QuotingSt. Augustine, Pope continued: “it is a labor of love to graze the flocks of the Lord”.

The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep; knows his sheep and his sheep know him; protects his sheep from thieves and wolves; pastures them. (cf. Jh. 10: 1-18).

Priests nurture their flock with the Word of God and the sacraments.  Defend the rights of people to: life, dignified life, a healthy ecology.

Jubilee Coordinating Team (JCT) Meets

Eleven of the 14 members of the JCT met on 14 March 2011 at the Bishop’s residence at 10:00am.

a)      Gabi ng Parangal.  Sequence: invocation, national anthem, blessing of food, dinner, awarding and cultural presentation during dinner, acknowledgement, closing song.

b)      Liturgy – CDs of songs composed by Mrs. Rosabella Patigdas – Ranara will be distributed to all parishes.  Joint practice sometime in November.  T’bolis will dance during the presentation of gifts, B’laans will do a thanksgiving dance after communion.

c)      Indigenous peoples’ exhibit and cultural show will be at the NDMU gym.  Parishes and students are urged to attend.

d)     Parishes are encouraged to serve light snacks after the mass on Christ the King Sunday.

e)      “NATURES” program will be for 3 years.  Existing programs, such as sustainable agriculture, solid waste management, advocacies against open pit mining and coal-fired power plant, seminars on earth spirituality, etc. will be incorporated into the “Design”.

f)       Dinner on Sunday, November 20, and lunch on Monday, November 21, will be at the South Cotabato Gym.

g)      Title of  Historical Souvenir Book “Journey of Faith”.

Coordinating Jubille Team Meets

Team members met on 7 February 2011, Bishop’s Residence, to report on team’s activities.

“Gabi ng Parangal”, a one-hour cultural presentation, c/o religious men and women and awarding of faithful servants”, c/o Fr. Romeo Buenaobra will be integrated with the dinner on November 20, 2011, 6:00pm, South Cotabato Gym.

Historical Souvenir  Book Data will be gathered by Fr. Romeo Buenaobra and Fr. Gillarme Joy Peliño.  Editor: Fr. Andy Magallanes.

Fr. Joseph Benitez reported on the plan for the simultaneous parish celebrations of Christ the King.  Main features: a nine-day novena;  procession, benediction, consecration, mass, light snacks on the Feast of Christ the King, Nov. 20, 2011.

Fr. Gillarme Joy Peliño reported on awareness campaign through mass education, family daily prayers before the image of Christ the King at 6:00pm, tarpaulins, T-shirts, production of modules for recollections.

Fr. Louie Fuentespina and Fr. Bonifacio Ampoyas to recruit 12 couples – 6 inGeneral Santos City and 6 in South Cotabato be trained as facilitators of the Marriage Encounter Week-end Seminars.  A 7 member facilitating team from Capiz will conduct the training on April 8-10, 2011, probably at the Trappistine Monastery.

Details of the culminating Liturgy on November 21, 2011 were presented by Team Leader Fr. Romeo Subaldo.

Fr. Romeo Catedral will assist Mr. Stimson Pino, team leader of NATURES – a 7-program plan.  Priorities: reforestation (N), ecological education (E), advocacies (anti open-pit mining and coal fired power plant) (A), Spirituality (S).

Fr. Ricardo Pajarillo, Jr., Team leader (youth) presented a comprehensive plan on youth activities, November 18-19, 2011.

Fr. Romeo Catedral, Team leader (Indigenous Peoples) presented initial activities: exhibits and cultural show.

Fr. Bonifacio Ampoyas, Team leader (Finance, Accommodation and Transportation) presented initial plans for FAT.

Next meeting, CJT, March 14, 2011, Bp.’s Residence.

Talk On Hope And Gratitude

Fifty priests, including two Dominicans, made their February recollection on 8 February 2010 at Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish, Cannery, Polomolok, South Cotabato.

Fr. Ronald Plomillo, AB, STB, MPM, D. Min, Rector, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Seminary talked on “Gratitude and Hope”, the theme of the Golden Jubilee celebration, Diocese of  Marbel.

“Gratitude”, said Fr. Ronald, “is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgement of a benefit that one has received or will receive.

“Gratitude is experienced if people perceive the help they receive as (a) valuable to them, (b) costly to their benefactor, and (c) given by the benefactor with benevolent intention”, he added.

“Other than love”, he continued, “gratitude is ‘the basic Christian attitude’ and also referred to as ‘the heart of the gospel’”.

Biblical passages on gratitude.  Examples: “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart” (Ps. 9:1),” “…forever” (Ps. 30:12), “for He is good…” (Ps. 107:1).

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15), “…for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus” (1 Cor, 1:4).  “Thanks be to God who always leads us in His triumph in Christ” (2 Cor. 2: 14).

“Gratitude in Christianity”, he concludes, is an acknowledgement of God’s generosity that inspires Christians to shape their own thoughts and actions around such ideals.”

Fr. Ronald then spoke on hope.  “Hope is the belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one’s life”.

“Hope in Christian Faith”, he continued, is “the theological virtue defined as the desire and search for a future good, difficult but not impossible to attain with God’s help.”

“It is trust and confidence in God”, he concluded.

Fr. Ronald concluded his exposition by sharing his personal experiences of gratitude and hope.  Grateful to God for graces received; to priests for inspiring him to become a priest; to the early missionaries for founding and building up the Local Church.  He hopes our seminarians would become holy and capable priests; for the Diocese to become zealous in its mission of building a more humane, just and free society – for Christ to reign!

Thank you, Fr. Ronald.  Thank you: Fr. Frank Romano, parish priest; Fr. Art Pancho, parish vicar; and parishioners.

Golden Jubilee Plan (Precis)

Theme: “Gratitude and Hope”

1)      Objectives, Activities, Team Leader (TL)

1. Individuals, institutions, corporations responsible for building up the Local Church of Marbel are recognized.  “Gabi ng Parangal”.  TL: Fr. Romeo Buenaobra.
2. Publication of Historical Souvenir Book.  TL: Mr. Andres Magallanes.  Members: NDMU Community.
3. Parish financial resources are shared.  Fund generation.  TL: Fr. Bonifacio Ampoyas.  Asst. TL: Mrs. Teresa Ruby J. Peralta.
4. Simultaneous  parish celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King as immediate preparation for the Diocesan celebration, Coordinated activities. TLs: Fr. Joseph Benitez (South Cotabato); Fr. Rolando Japitana (SarGen).
5. Public appreciation of the History of the Diocese of Marbel whose Titular is Christ the King and commitment to future challenges.  Dissemination through Media.  TL: Fr. Gillarme Joy B. Peliño.
6. Design of programs based on the acronym “NATURES” of the diocesan consultation on November 21-22, 2009.  Data gathering.  TL: Mr. Stimson Pino. Co-TL: Sr. Susan Bolanio, OND. (N-atural agricultural practices.  A-dvocacy.  T-otal waste Management.  U-nited actions.  R-eforestation.  E-ducation.  S-pirituality).
7. Enriched Christian Families.  Weekend Marriage encounter Seminars.  Joint TLs: Fr. Louie Fuentespina, CP and Fr. Bonifacio Ampoyas, Ph.D.
8. Meaningful culminating liturgical celebration (closing liturgy).  Special Rites.  TL: Fr. Romeo Subaldo.  Members: Mrs. Rosabella “Nene” Patigdas-Ranara; Ms. Inday Jamero; Ms. Lucille Despo.
9. Youth and Indigenous People (IP) are given importance.  Youth vigil and camp-in.  IPs exhibits.  TL (Youth): Fr. Ricardo Pajarillo, Jr. TL (IP): Fr. Romeo Catedral.  Members: Fr. Herminio Hongayo, Jr. (SCM) and Fr. Rey Ondap, CP (AM)

2)      Others

1. Cultural presentation, “Gabi ng Parangal”, Nov. 20^th (Sunday). c/o AWRSC
2. Invitation.  Fr. Romeo Buenaobra, V.G.
3. Accommodation and transportation.  Fr. Bonifacio Ampoyas.
4. Appreciation “gifts” to Bishops and visiting priests. ‘Gifts’ sourcing: Fr. Rolando Japitana
5. Photo – Documentation.  Fr. Joel Sunga (TL) and Fr. Rey Joloro (member).
6. Budget – Fr. Bonifacio Ampoyas.
7. Jubilee Prayer.  Fr. Joe-an Paez.
8. Jubilee Logo and Song.  TL: Fr. Ricardo Pajarillo.

3)      Coordinating Team (CT)

Bp. Dinualdo Gutierrez                      Fr. Romeo Buenaobra

Fr. Bonifacio Ampoyas                       Fr. Romeo Catedral

Fr. Louie Fuentespina, CP                  Fr. Romeo Subaldo

Fr. Joseph Benitez                               Fr. Rolando Japitana

Fr. Gillarme Joy Peliño                       Fr. Ricardo Pajarillo, Jr.

Mr. Andres Magallanes                       Mr. Stimson Pino

Sr. Pres., AWRSC                              Sr. Susan Bolanio, OND

Meeting, CT, February 7, 2011, 10am, Bishop’s Residence.

Agenda: 1) Presentation of Action Plans; 2) Budget.

This plan was approved by the Bishop and 54 priests on January 11, 2011, Bishop’s Residence